Chapter 16 — Behind the Door is Still Home

“So it's only two days?”

Tri Tinh smiled.

“It's so urgent, why don't you stay a few more days?”

“The company can't let you take time off forever.”

I raised my head to look at her.

“I still have work.”

“That's right, your sister is very busy.”

Dad interjected, looked at me as if he wanted to say something, then swallowed it. After dinner, my mother urged me to go back to my room to rest.

"You're tired from the journey. Go get some sleep this afternoon. This afternoon, Mom and Dad will go to a relative's house for a while. When I get home in the evening, Mom will stew chicken for you."

“Mom and dad, just go.”

I nodded.

“I'm also going to get some sleep.”

Dad took the key and the cigarette pack and went out with mom. The door closed with a "click" sound. The house was immediately quieter. After Tri Tinh finished cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks, she coaxed Doan Doan back to the room to play. The door was ajar, and occasionally children's laughter could be heard. The living room only left me and Chu Hao. He held an apple and sat peeling it, his eyes sometimes not glancing at me.

“You're really good at enduring.”

He laughed.

“It must be very lonely to celebrate Tet alone in Guangzhou.”

“I have work to keep me company so it's not that bad.”

I leaned back on the sofa.

“Last year I also worked overtime on New Year's Eve.”

“So it's still different.”

Chu Hao sighed.

"At home, my parents remind me every year, saying they don't know when they'll be able to bring me home to celebrate Tet."

I didn't reply. I know these words sound very emotional. But at the moment, it feels more like a layer of sugar coating something that's harder to talk about.

“By the way, why do you suddenly want to come back this year?”

Chu Hao gave me the peeled apple.

“Sick of home?”

I took it and took a bite. Apples are very sweet, but a bit crumbly.

“I also want to visit my parents.”

“That's right, is it expensive for you to rent a house?”

He asked as if unintentionally.

“Houses in Guangzhou are very expensive.”

“Also expensive.”

I replied lightly.

“But still bearable.”

“Or… should you think about changing cities?”

Chu Hao laughed.

“For example, here, low prices, close to parents.”

“I don't think about it for now.”

I shook my head.

“Your work and relationships are all there.”

“That's right.”

Chu Hao nodded.

"But it's not easy for a girl to struggle outside alone. Her parents are getting older, sooner or later she will have to return home."

“Let's see.”

I replied leisurely. I did not actively mention the house. I want to see... Who can't help but open their mouth first. In the afternoon, my parents went out. Tri Tinh led Doan Doan back to the playroom. I went back to my room. Sit down next to the bed. I took out my phone and opened the recording app. Hesitating for a few seconds, his finger slid close to the "delete" button and then stopped. I don't intend to record other people. I just want to record my own thoughts. Everything in my head is so chaotic, I'm afraid that just taking notes will miss something.

“Today is…”

I looked at the phone and spoke in a low voice.

“The third day of Tet.”

“I'm at home right now.”

“I just saw Doan Doan's toys and easel appear in my room.”

I stopped for a few seconds.

“Everything confirms that last night's phone call was genuine.”

“They are actually preparing to turn this room into her nursery.”

“I was like a temporary tenant.”

Speaking of this, my voice unconsciously tensed up.

“I don't know what will happen next.”

“I don't know how long I can stay calm.”

“But I have to remind myself…”

“Every decision are not given while out of control.”

I stopped recording. The file name is simple: I don't know if this counts as "evidence" or not. But at least… It helps me remember how I feel today. Remind yourself that... No matter what choice you make in the future, don't easily beautify or blacken everyone in front of you. Just after three o'clock in the afternoon, the phone screen lit up. It's a bank message.

“Your tail account received 3,000 yuan, sender: Tran Tu Lan.”

Immediately after that, WeChat displayed another message. Note: Mom.

“Tri Dao, I saw the money you transferred at noon, I sent you half of it back. Even when you're alone outside, you still need to spend money. Don't always bring money home, keep it and use it."

I stared at that message for a long time. That morning on the train, I transferred 5,000 yuan to my mother to make up for the New Year's lucky money because I didn't come home on New Year's Eve. Mom just gave me back 3,000 yuan. Only keep 2,000. If it were before, I would feel that my mother loved me and always wanted to save me some pocket money. And now... I see another layer of meaning.

—— They don't want me to leave too obvious a financial trace in this house.

Even if it's just a symbolic "Tet money". I didn't answer right away. A few minutes later, my mother sent another message.

“Your dad said you moved so much that it made us feel uneasy.”

“You need money outside too.”